ISE-SHIMA, May 26 (Reuters) - Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told fellow Group of Seven leaders on Thursday that North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes are also a concern to Europe, a top Japanese government official said.

Chairing the first of two days of a G7 summit in central Japan, Abe told his counterparts that Pyongyang’s development of nuclear technology and ballistic missiles poses a threat to international peace, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshige Seko told reporters.

The prime minister also said it is important to have Russia’s constructive engagement in neighbouring Ukraine and said Japan is ready to extend a fresh $500 million in aid to Iraq, Seko said. (Writing by William Mallard)